[Bookworm_Girl]

I also had Downton Abbey in the back of my mind in terms of how each of the daughters responded. I seem to remember one of the daughters made the statement something like all the boys I danced with are dead. Obviously Lady Sybil is the closest parallel to Vera with her rebellious interest in women's rights and her service as a VAD. I think she even asked for cooking lessons downstairs. As I recall her entire family was not very happy about her decision to nurse!

Vera really struggled with her father forcing her to return home from France due to her family "duties". I think she always felt bitter about it. I read one of her post-war articles where she was still expounding on the need for reform in the future to prevent other women from struggling with this conflict between family and country.

I liked that the book was divided into 3 parts as before, during and after. I thought it was necessary to understand the full impact of the war. I was surprised at how much she was able to participate and witness in the post-war world affairs through the League of Nations Union. I am curious what the original ending of the book was like before George made her remove much of the text about him. I also think it's interesting that her daughter had such a long career in politics, surely influenced by her upbringing and views of both parents. Just imagine as a young woman watching women fight to vote and then to have a daughter serve as an MP!